The Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has had its fair share of hits and misses, but Sonic Frontiers solves one problem that has been plaguing the series for over a decade. Gameplay or music has been Sonic’s saving grace when a lackluster installment launches, but there was a time the games' characters would be just as important as jamming out and going fast. In Sonic Frontiers, players can enjoy all of these features.
Frontiers brings Sonic and the rest of the cast back to life. Installments prior to its release made the characters feel as if they were going through the motions. Sonic and his friends would emote very little, and the dialogue was just serviceable while being cringe-inducing at its worst. Frontiers gave Sonic his personality back and then some.
Sonic Frontiers Makes Characters Appear More Authentic
The change was helped by veteran Sonic Archie and IDW comic writer Ian Flynn. Although the comic writer wasn't involved with Sonic Frontiers' story as much as some may have hoped, he did play a big role in its dialogue. Flynn was brought on the project after Sonic Frontiers’ producer Takashi Iizuka read a few of the comics he worked on. Players will notice right away that characters appear more authentic, with lines being genuinely funny at times and more endearing overall. Hopefully Ian Flynn will be brought on for future games to keep things consistent.
Since Sonic Colors the Blue Blur has been less expressive with each subsequent release. As great as Colors was from a gameplay perspective, it was severely lacking in its portrayal of the character. The dialogue throughout the game left much to be desired and cutscenes simply served as a way to get from point A to point B. Long-time fans are still haunted by quotes like "Baldy McNoseHair" to this day. Even in mixed releases like the unnecessarily edgy Shadow The Hedgehog game Sonic bursts with personality in every movement he made, but in recent times, it felt as if his expressions were an afterthought. It's reassuring to know that this is no longer the case for Sonic Frontiers.
For some Sonic fans, the Blue Blur’s attitude and style are just as important to the character as his need for speed. Sonic Frontiers brings back the wit players know and love. With the title succeeding in so many areas, the future of Sonic The Hedgehog games looks brighter than ever.
